AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The main flaw of Allport’s trait theory of personality is that it is not directly based on empirical research; he published very little evidence to support his theory. In his first publication, he collaborated with his brother Floyd Allport to study the central characteristics of 55 male college students.

Detailed explanation-2: -There are two main limitations to Trait Theory of Personality: Correlations do not equal Causation-the categorization is based on correlational data, so specific traits cannot strictly predict behavior because they do not cause the behavior.

Detailed explanation-3: -Demerits. Feist criticized Allport’s theory saying that it is grounded more in philosophical speculations and common sense than in scientific research. Psychoanalysts objected to Allport’s concept of proprium which puts more emphasis on the present and future and ignores his past.

Detailed explanation-4: -Allport believed that a useful theory of personality rests on the assumption that people not only react to their environment but also shape their environment and cause it to react to them. Personality is a growing system, allowing new elements to constantly enter into and change the person.